Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris_CA 
Why does there need to be a correction? The article stated, "
Potential configurations included a dual-core Core i5 model,". It did not state that there is a dual core i5 available now.
The article should be corrected because the current quad-core iMac uses a desktop Core i5 CPU and a desktop Core i7 CPU. The mobile variant of the Core i5 and Core i7 is a dual core CPU only.
Quote:
Potential configurations included a dual-core Core i5 model, as well as quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 configurations. Also of interest, according to those same people, were indications that new iMacs would be the first Macs to employ Intel's Core i3 processor at the low-end, which would have the new family of desktops utilize all three flavors of Intel's mobile Core line of processors.
As written, the second sentence implies that the next iMacs would use mobile Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs (which would all be dual cores). The first sentence (which you quoted) is more likely: a mobile dual core Core i5 entry level iMac with a quad-core Core i5 mid range model and a quad-core Core i7 high end model.
It is highly unlikely that the next iMacs would include all three types of dual core mobile CPUs, the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7, in addition to the quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 because:
1- it creates confusion between dual core and quad-core Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs;
2- There is no need to use mobile CPUs in a desktop computer;
3- Using a mobile CPU in a desktop computer negates the advantage of a desktop computer, i.e. power instead of portability;
4- There is not a great price difference between the dual core mobile Core CPU and the quad-core desktop Core CPU.
The iMac is a consumer, family, office desktop computer which must compare favorably with competing models using Windows 7. This can only be accomplished if the iMac has a similar price range for comparable features. And Apple must offer desktop computers with desktop CPUs to offer a complete range of models to potential buyers.
A desktop iMac is not portable, but its quad-core power allows me to multi-task: while I write this answer on Firefox, 3 cores are doing medical research for the World Community Grid (
http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org) using BOINC software (
http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and the remaining core has enough power to play Mozart's Wind Concertos using dbPowerAMP (
http://www.dbpoweramp.com) Music Player (
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dbpoweramp.htm) for lossless audio playback with Macindows (
http://www.pioneeringsoftware.co.uk/pages/products) to use Windows software on a Mac.
Have you ever heard a Mac user doing as much with a dual core portable computer or are they concerned with battery duration and excessive heat?
